CALLS have been made to tackle vandals in Pendle after a beauty spot became the latest area to be targeted.

Councillors have hit out after a playground spring jumper was damaged at the children’s play area at Earby Waterfalls recreational area.

Earby Town Council has said that residents reported five teenagers were on the apparatus at one time.

Cllr Morris Horsfield, who represents the area on Pendle Council, said: “Vandalism costs a lot of money, how long can it go on for?

“You can only repair things for so long. It’s sad really, everyone suffers for it.

“It’s finding the money for the costs, everything is getting out of hand now, we need to get more police looking at the area.

“It’s a good place for children to go down to with there parents, we have a nice area, we can’t let it be spoilt.”

The cost of repairs comes directly out of Earby Town Councils budget which is one of a number of concerns in the area about the incidents of crime.

This is the second repair in two months after someone first took a hacksaw to another one of the springing children’s apparatus and caused £100 of damage.

The damage after the latest attack has cost the town council £159.30.

The children’s playing apparatus at the site off Birch Hall Lane is designed to take one or two small children but was broken off its spring following the incident.

Cllr Mike Goulthorp, who also represents the area, said: “Waterfalls recreational area is a bit of a beauty spot.

“Vandalism does keep happening and it is an ongoing issue, but it is also a seasonal problem with the long summer nights.

“It’s extremely annoying for residents, and a problem people are constantly talking to me about.

“I’m just worried that youngsters or residents will end up getting hurt if incidents like this keep happening.

Other areas in the region are also suffering from incidents of vandalism and anti-social behaviour and the swings at the Cemetery Road site have also been tampered with in recent months, the council said.

Councillors have pleaded with people in the area to take care of equipment and to keep and eye out for any signs of trouble.

Cllr Goulthorp said: “Residents must report these issues and then hopefully we will start to see something happen, it’s on our priorities list.”

“Parents visiting the site with their children, and anyone else, should be getting involved straight away and contact the police if they see something, it is not right that it keeps going on this way, it is costing people money.

“It’s always on our agenda, and is something that we are striving to solve.”